Baffle gasifier



Feb. 11, 1941. J. I BREEsE Erm.

BAFFLE GAS IFIER 1 T INVENTORS. Janes 1 Brea/Se BY Mij/gnne@ /axyzer f QQ/QR ATTORNEYS.

Feb. l1, 1941- J. L. BREESE Erm.

BAFFLE GASIFIER Filed April 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT 'OFFICE 2,231,151 mimi: easlrma Jamell L. Breese and Bruce Bayter, Santa Fe, N. Mex., signora to Oil Devices, Santa Fe. N. Mex., a limited partnership of Illinois Application April 10, 1939, Serial No. 267,021

13 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in pot type hydrocarbon burners. One purpose is the provision of improved means for preventing deposit of carbon or soot in the burner when the burner is running at low name.

Another purpose is the provision of a maximum turndown whereby a pilot effect may be obtained. Another purpose is the provision of improved gasifyingmeans for obtaining the preliminary hydroimlation of the mixture in a pot type burner. Another purpose is the provision of means for directing a mixture of primary air and vaporized hydrocarbon inwardly toward the central portion of a pot type burner.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claims. s We illustrate our invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a pot with a variant form of baille.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates any suitable outer shell, drum or the like into the interior of which any suitable means. not herein shown, may be employed for admitting air. 2 is a circumferential support which may be secured to the inner face of the member I and which is herein shown as a ring annular in cross section. 3 indicates the mixing chamber or pot proper. which may have a slightly concave bottom 4 and an oil or liquid fuel inlet member 5. The member 3 is shown as having an upper top flange 6 with a down-turned outer flange portion 'i adapted to seat upon the ring 2, whereby the burner pot is supported .within the shell' I. 40 The pot is shown as being provided with a plurality of primary air inlet apertures 9 which may be located in rows at various levels. The lowest rowl of holes, as indicated at Il, may be tipped or distorted whereby the air passing inwardly therethrough is somewhat downwardly as well as inwardly directed. II indicates a top row of secondary air inlet apertures, the function of which is to supply additional or. secondary air to the upwardly rising mixture .of air and vaporized hydrocarbon. l l Whereas the process of combustion does not of itself form part of the present invention, it will be understood that in the -type of burner herein described a liquid fuel is supplied through the inl5 let or pipe l: This liquid fuel is vaporized by the heat of combustion going on in the upper portion of the pot 3 or thereabove. As the liquid hydro# carbon is-vaporized it rises upwardly to and past the level of the various primary air apertures 9 and I0. These apertures serve as an air metering 5 arrangement whereby only suiiicient air is supplied to the vaporized hydrocarbon to form a preliminary mixture. It is not until this preliminary mixturel receives the additional air supply which enters through the secondary air inlets Il that 10' final combustion takes place.

The above is a description of the operation of the device when it is being employed at relatively high heating capacity. It is desirable, in burners of this type, to providefor turndown means 15 whereby a low or practically pilot flame may be employed. To obtain this result we supply a generally horizontal baille member which includes a fiat ring I2 having an inner aperture I3. The ring I2 is herein shown as terminating, as at I4, 20 at a radial distance inwardly from the inner face of the pot 3. Secured to the lower face of the ring I2, for example by spot welding, is a second ring generally indicated as I 5,which is shown as radially corrugated. It may if desired terminate 4245 short of the inner edge of the ring as at I6.

Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the bale member above described. It may for example be provided with legs Il which rest upon the bottom 4 of the pot. Or supporting $0 pins or studs I8 may be employed in connection with the wall 3 of the pot. I

The edge of the ring I 5 is notched or cut away as at I9 at the upper portions oi! each bend formed by the corrugations of the ring. AThese 35 cut-away portions I9 are preferably generally V- shaped and are each alined with one of the downwardly tilted apertures I0. The baie member as a whole is located preferably at a level slightly below the bottom apertures III and it will be 40 understood that a jet of air is downwardly and inwardly directed, through each of the notches I9, from one of the apertures I0. Other apertures III, which are alined with lower portions of the ring I5, direct air into the loops or the spaces formed between the flat ring I2 and the corrugated ring I5.

It will thus be observed that some of the air is directed downwardly entirely through and beneath the composite baille structure above de- 5o scribed, whereas some air is directed between the two baille-rings, and nds its way radially inwardly to mix with the mixture of air and vapor-f ized hydrocarbon -upwardly rising through the central aperture of the baille structure. ll

The combustion is controlled by controlling the volume of liquid hydrocarbon flowing inwardly through the line B. Any suitable control may be employed, automatic or otherwise. For purpose of illustration, however, we illustrate in Fig. 2 diagrammatically a hand control valve 2l.

In order to aline the notches i3 of the corrugated ring I5 properly with the apertures I0, we have provided an alining bar 2l, preferably welded to the pot 3, which is received in a corresponding slot 21 formed at the edge of one of the lower corrugations.

Referring to Fig. 3, we illustrate a form of baille.

which includes an upper fiat ring 30, a lower iiat ring 3i, and an lintermediate corrugated ring 32. This baille structure may be alinedwith any one of the various rows of holes. If the baille i's used as a low turndown pilot baille, it may properly be alined with the lowest row of holes, as shown in Fig. 3. The three rings taken together form a series of generally radial tubes. While these tubes are by no means of perfect Venturi shape, experience indicates that they obtainl a Venturi result.

In this form of the device, the lower row of holes I0, instead of being downwardly tipped as in Fig. 1, is preferably left straight. The bale is so located in the pot 3 that the tubes formed by the spaces between the three rings are located directly opposite air holes in the pot. 'I'he jets of air that come from said holes lil travel directly through the tubes as near as practically possible in the center.

As the air jets leave the holes in the pot they have a short free travel before actually entering the tubes, as provided by the space illustrated at Xin Fig. 3, the corrugated ring 32 and the lower flat ring 3i terminating radially inwardly somewhat from the opposed inner face of the pot 3. If oil vapor is present, these air streams, due to their kinetic effect, will drag oil vapor radially linwardly along the tubes of the baille structure.

This oil vapor and air mixes thoroughly within the tubes and a true hydroxylated oil gas is obtained. 'I'his hydroxylated gas is sufficiently rich under all conditions of operation and the velocity of the gas-air mixture in the tube is sumciently above the rate of flame propagation to prevent flashing back. This gas-air mixture, as it leaves the tubes, burns with an almost clear blue ame.

All of these air jets, as they pick up the gas, create a slight vacuum in the chamber below the baille or gasifier structure. This vacuum4 causes a part of the burning gas, as it leaves the ends of the tubes, to be drawn downwardly. This downward flow of hot gases keeps the bottom of the pot quite hot, recirculates the products of `combustion, and preheats the carbon dioxide and oil vapor mixture. It has been frequently shown that the mixture of carbon dioxide and-the preheating of the carbon dioxide gas mixture is advantageous from a combustion standpoint.

While the structure of Fig. 3 can be employed as a pilot, since, located in alignment with the lowest row of holes, it provides a low turndown.

it is essentially a gasifier and a hydroxylator and can be located, if desired, at a higher level in the pot. The fact that it can burn at low capacity. due to excellent combustion characteristics, is incidental although desirable.

The baille structure may be supported upon the pins I8 as illustrated in Fig. 3 or upon legs similar to the legs l1 of Fig. 1.

The upper ring 30 is provided with an aligning slot 34 to receive the aligning bar 26.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention. We therefore wish our drawings to be taken as illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting us to our precise showing.

We claim:

l. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of primary air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot. and a centrally apertured baille, intermediate the top and bottom of said pot, which includes a flat generally horizontal ring and a corrugated ring adjacent thereto the corrugations of said corrugated ring defining with said `fiat ring a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length, eifective for conducting air from some of the air inlet apertures to vapors rising from the space below the baille, each such radial passage being radially aligned with and in communication with one of said primary air inlet apertures.

2. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of primary air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot,

and a centrally apertured baille, intermediate the top and bottom of said pot, which includes a at generally horizontal ring and a corrugated ring secured to the bottom thereof, the corrugations of said corrugated ring defining with said flat ring a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length.-

effective for conducting air from some of the air inlet apertures to vapors rising from the space below the baille, each such radial passage being radially aligned with and in communication with one of said primary air inlet apertures.

3. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of primary air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot, and a centrally apertured baille, intermediate the top and bottom of said pot, which includes a flat generally horizontal ring and a corrugated ring adjacent thereto, the corrugations of said corrugated ring defining with said fiat ring a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length, effective for conducting air from some of the air inlet apertures to vapors rising from the space below the baille, each such radial passage being radially aligned with and in communication with yone of said primary air inlet apertures, said corrugated ring extending to close proximity with the inner face of the side wall, the outer edge of said flat ring being spaced inwardly from the inner face of said side wall.

4. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a'plurality of primary air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot,

'and a centrally apertured baille, intermediate the top and bottom of said pot, which includes a fiat generally horizontal ring and a corrugated ring adjacent thereto, the corrugations of said corrugated ring defining with said fiat ring a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length, effective for conducting air from ,some of the air inlet 'apertures to vapors rising from the space below the baiile, each such radial passage being 5 radially aligned with and in communication with one of said primary air inlet apertures, said corrugated -ring extending to close proximity with the inner face of the side wall, the outer edge of said flat ring being spaced inwardly from the inner face of the side wall, the upper portions of the bends of said corrugated ring being notched in alinement with adjacent air inlet apertures.

5. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of primary air inlet apertures located at various levels, and secondary air inlet means adjacent the top of the pot,

means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot, and a gasifier intermediate top and bottom of said pot, and substantially below the secondary air inlet means, said gasifler having portions defining a plurality of restricted ai!` passages extending generally radially inwardly from the inner face of the pot of substantially less width than radial length, each alined with a primary air inlet aperture in said pot.

6. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, the side wall having therein a plurality of air inlet apertures located at various levels, a generally horizontal pilot baille located in said pot at a level below the lowest of said air apertures, means for directing air downwardly through said baiile into the space beneath the baille, and additional means for directing air radially inwardly along the baille, in-

cluding a plurality of generally radial passage members.

7. In a baille structure for hydrocarbon burners, a generally flat ring and a corrugated ring opposed thereto, said corrugated ring having a plurality of generally radial corrugations, the folds of said corrugations engaging one face of said flat ring, said corrugations defining, with the flat ring, a plurality of generally radial restricted .45 air passages of substantially greater radial length than breadth.

8. In a baffle structure for hydrocarbon burners, a generally flat ring and a corrugated ring opposed thereto, said corrugated ring having a plurality of generally radial corrugations, the

folds of said corrugations engaging one face of said flat ring, said corrugations defining, with the flat ring, a plurality of generally radial restricted air passages of substantially greater radial length than breadth, said corrugated ring being of smaller diameter than said fiat ring.

9. In a pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom anda side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot, and a pilot baiile located in said pot at a level below the lowest of said air apertures, said baille being generally annular in form and having a central aperture, and including a generally fiat generally f horizontal ring and a corrugatedrlng, the corrugations of said corrugated ring being generally radial and V including portions abutting against the at ring, the spaces between the flat andthe corrugated ring constituting generally radial .passages forl conducting air from some of the air apertures to vapors rising from the space in the pot'below said pilot bathe.

inlet aperture.

10. Ina pot type hydrocarbon burner, a pot having a bottom and a side wall, said side wall having therein a plurality of air inlet apertures located at various levels, means for delivering a liquid fuel to the bottom of said pot, and a pilot 5 baffle located in said pot at a level below the lowest of said air apertures, said baille being generally annular in form and having a central aperture, and including a generally flat generally horizontal ring and a corrugated ring, the corru- 10 gations of said corrugated ring being generally radial and including portions abutting against the at ring, the spaces between the flat and the corrugated ring constituting generally radial passages for conducting air from some of the air 15 apertures to vapors rising from the space in the pot below said pilot baile, the outer edge of said baille being apertured in general radial alignment vertically with apertures located at tle lowest level of air apertures. 20

11. In a liquid fuel burner, a pot and means for admitting liquid fuel to the bottomthereof, the pot having in its wall a plurality of primary air apertures locatedat various levels above the level of the fuel, means adjacent the top of the pot for 25 admitting secondary air to the vaporized mixture of fuel and primary air, and a centrally apertured baille positioned in said chamber intermediate top and bottom thereof and substantially below the secondary air inlet means, said baille includ- 30 ingia generally at horizontal plate, and a corrugated plate of sheet metal secured to a face thereof, the corrugations of said sheet metal plate defining a plurality of generally radial passages of a. width substantially less than their radial 35 length, each said radial passage being in radial alignment with, and in communication with, a primary air inlet aperture.

12. In a liquid fuel burner, a pot and means for admitting liquid fuel to the bottom thereof, the 40 pot having in its wall a plurality of primary air apertures located at various levels above the level of the fuel, means adjacent the top of the pot for admitting secondary air to the vaporized mixture of fuel and primary air, and a centrally 45 apertured baille positioned in said chamber intermediate top and bottom thereof and substantially below the secondary air inlet means, said baiile including a generally flat horizontal plate, and a corrugated plate of sheet metal secured to the 50 lower face thereof, the corrugations of said sheet metal plate defining a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length, each said radial passage being in radial alignment with, and in communication 55 with, a primary air inlet aperture. i

' 13. In a liquid fuel burner, a. pot and means for admitting liquid fuel to the bottom-thereohthe pot having in its wall a plurality of primary air apertures located at various levels above the level 00 of the fuel, means adjacent the top of the. pot for admitting secondary air to the vaporized mixture of fuel and primary air, and a centrally apertured baille positioned in said' chamber intermediate top and bottom thereof and substantially below the secondary air inlet means, said baie defining a plurality of generally radial passages of a width substantially less than their radial length, each said radial passage being in radial alignment with, and in communication with, a primary air 'I0 JAMES I.; BREEsE. BRUCE HAYTER. 

